SIMULATION WITH ARENA

Simulation

Simulation is a numerical technique for conducting experiments on a digital computer,

which involves logical and mathematical relationships that interact to describe the
behavior and structure of a complex real world system over extended periods of time [1].
Simulation refers to a broad collection of methods and application to mimic the behaviour
of real system usually on a computer with appropriate software.

What is being modelled

A manufacturing plant
A bank with different kinds of customers, servers, etc.
A distribution network of plants, warehouses and transportation links
An emergency facility in a hospital

Simulation languages

GPSS, SIMSCRIPT, SLAM AND SIMAN

Arena is based on the SIMAN simulation language

Arena combines modules to build a fairly wide variety of simulation models.

Different kinds of simulations

STATIC VS DYNAMIC Time doesnt play a natural role in static model but does in dynamic
models.

Manufacturing system model describes dynamic model and Arena is primarily focus on
such models.

Continuous vs Discrete
In Continuous model state of the system can change continuously over time.
E.g. Levels of a water reservoir falls due to evaporation occur.

In a Discrete model change can occur only at separated points in time.

E.g. A manufacturing system with parts arriving and leaving at specific time

Arena is mostly focused in discrete models.

Deterministic vs stochastic

Model that have no random input are deterministic.

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 E.g. Strict appointment-book with fixed service time

Stochastic models operate with at least some inputs being random.

E.g. A bank with randomly arriving customer requiring varying service times

General-Purpose Languages, Simulation Languages and High-Level

Simulators
General-Purpose Languages:
Highly customizable and flexible
But painfully tedious and error prone

Simulation Languages:
Provide much better framework
Still have to invest a bit of time to learn about their features and how to use them
effectively

High-Level Simulators:
Very easy to use
Operate by intuitive graphical user interface, menus and dialogs
Select from available simulation-modelling constructs, connect them, and run the model
Dynamic graphical animation of system components as they move around and change
Domains of many simulators are rather restricted (like manufacturing or communication)
Generally not flexible

Performance measures
Total production
Average waiting time in queue
Maximum waiting time in queue
Time-average number of parts waiting in the queue
Maximum number of parts that were ever waiting in the queue
Average and maximum total time in system
Utilisation

PIECES OF A SIMULATION MODEL

Entities:
The dynamic objects in the simulation that move around, change status, affect and are
affected by other entities and the state of the system, and affect the output performance
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 They usually are created, move around for a while and then are disposed (leave)
E.g. parts to be processed, customers in a banking system, etc
Resources
Entities often take the service from resources.
An entity seizes a resource when available and releases it.
E.g. Machines, Server
Attributes
Attributes are generally attached to individual entities
E.g. Part entities have attributes called due date, priority, colour, etc.
(Global) Variables
A piece of information that reflects some characteristic of your system, regardless of how
many or what kinds of entities might be around
Many different variables are possible in a model
In Arena there are two types of variables:

Built-in variables (number-in queue, number of busy servers, current simulation clock
time, and so on)

User-defined variables (mean service time, travel time, current shift, and so on)
Statistical Accumulators
To get the final output performance measures, it is necessary to keep track of the
variables as the simulation progress and such variables are called statistical accumulators
Arena take care of most of the statistical accumulation
Event
Something that happen at an instant of time that might change attributes, variables or
statistical accumulators
E.g. Arrival A new part enters the system,
Departure A part finishes its operations (service) and leaves the system
Queues
When an entity cant move on (due to unavailability of resource) it needs a place to wait,
which is the purpose of a queue.
Simulation Clock
Current value of time in the simulation held in a variable is called the simulation clock
Simulation clock and event calendar are the important pieces of any dynamic simulation
Starting and Stopping
Starting and stopping conditions should be specified
It is important to think about these conditions and make these conditions consistent with
what you are modeling
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 You may have to think about whether it should stop at a particular time or it should stop
when something specific happens (like as soon as 100 finished parts produced when a
production shop is simulated)
Replication
Each run starts and stops according to the same rule and uses same input parameter
setting (statistically identical) but use separate random numbers (independent)

ARENA

General-purpose simulation package

Process-oriented
High-level (very easy to use by graphical user interfaces, menu and dialogues)
Animation
Model building
Drag-and-drop modules into model window
Connect them, so define flow of entities
Detail modules and entities in dialog boxes and in spreadsheet
Run independent replications

ARENA WINDOW

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Models are described with ARENA version 11

SOME DETAILS FOR ARENA MODELLING

EXAMPLE: A SINGLE COUNTER TRANSACTION
Customers arrive randomly: described by a distribution

Transacts business: single counter

Leaves

E.g.: an ATM counter

Arena model
ENTRANCE COUNTER EXIT

0... 0...
0....

Play the ATM 2.exe file to know the method of data inputting in this model.

Modules
Flow chart modules & Data modules
Basic modules
Create
Process
Dispose
Advanced modules

Model building

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Create module

Name
Entity type
Time between arrivals
Entities per arrival

Process module

Name
Action
Resources
Add
Delay type

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Adding resources
Give the name of resource that do the processing
Quantity: quantity of the above resource required to do the processing

Connecting

Dispose module

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Run Setup

EXAMPLE 2: A MANUFACTURING SYSTEM

Stations with multiple servers

Machine failures defined
Pictorial representation of machine state

ARENA Model of a Manufacturing system with 4 machines used in sequence

Crea te 1 Pro c e s s 1 Pro c e s s 2 Pro c e s s 3 Pro c e s s 4 Dis p o s e 1

0 0
0 0 0 0

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Setting capacities & assigning failures

Failure definition

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Machine state representation

Using schedules: for resources & arrivals

EXAMPLE 3: A BANK

Tellers: no. of tellers vary during the day

Calendar based
Default value type: numeric
Manager: Availability based on time of day
Calendar based
Default value type: state
Arrival: Rate of arrival depends on time of day
Duration based
Customer arrives to a bank; some of the customers collect coupon and proceed to a counter
(teller) for processing. Another stream of customers directly goes to a receptionist and then
proceeds either to the Bank manager or for coupon collection and then to the counter.

ARENA Model

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 C1 COUPON COUNTE RS E XIT

0 0
0

C2 0 T ru e
RECEPTION Decide 1
0 B ANK
MANAGER
0
Fals e

0 0
Creating schedules

Click Schedule in Basic Process

Add and name a new schedule
Select format type
For calendar type
Go to: Edit Calendar schedules- Time patterns: select the name & edit
For duration type: click durations in schedule spread sheet itself & edit

Editing schedule

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Numeric value type

State type

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Assigning the schedule

For resources
Go to Resource spread sheet,
select the schedule name.
Schedule rule :preempt
For schedule based arrivals:
Edit Create module,
type of arrival : schedule
select schedule name
Decision module

2- way by chance
N- way by chance
2- way by condition
N- way by condition

2-way by chance

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N-way by condition
Ex: different entity types can be diverted to different routes

Tips on self- learning

I. Use Arena Help

II. Use examples: (Default location:-C:\Program Files\Rockwell
Software\Arena\Examples)
III. Use ARENA Smart Files (C:\Program Files\Rockwell Software\Arena\Smarts)
Smart files are code-named . Index is
given in :Help- Arena SMART Files

SMART Files

Ex: for entity pictures

Help: Arena SMART Files: Animation: Animating entities:Smarts023
Open Smarts023 form Smarts folder

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EXAMPLE 4: ELECTRONIC ASSEMBLY AND TEST SYSTEM

Part A prep Rework

TRIA(1,4,8) EXPO(45) Scrapped
20%
Part A
EXPO(5) Sealer 9%
80%
SALVAG ED
AND SHIPPE D
Part B Prep
TRIA(3,5,10)

Part B PART A
TRIA(1,3,4)
91%
B ATCH
ES O F 4 PART B
EXPO WEIB(2.5,5.3)
Shipped
(30)

Electronic Assembly and Test System

ARENA MODEL OF THE ABOVE EXAMPLE

part A Arrives part A sealer time prep A process

and arrive time
0
0 sealer process

part B sealer time

0
part B Arrives
and arrive time prep Bprocess
0

0 0 Record scrapped
True True scrapped
Failedsealer inspection failedrework inspection parts
Rework process
0
0 Fals e 0 0 Fal se

Record salvaged salvaged

parts
0

Record shipped shipped

parts
0

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Play the electronic 2.exe file to know the data inputting in this model.

REFERENCE MATERIAL

[1]. Ravindran A., Philips, D. T. and Solberg, J. J., (1987) Operations Research: Principles
and Practices, Second edition, John Wiley & Sons, New York
[2]. Book: Kelton, W.D., Sadowski, R.P., and Sturrock, D.T: Simulation with Arena, Fourth
Edition, 2007, McGraw Hill (with limited student edition of Arena on CD-Rom).
[3]. In a computer where Arena installed, use the following path:
Start/Programs/Rockwell Software/Arena/Online Books
Very useful examples are available when you opened Arena in a computer and use the
help. You can use Arena help and Arena SMART files from the help menu

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